Felt boot



(No Model.)

w. H. KIMBALL.'

Patented June 8, 1886.

lllllllllm I will IIII! WITNESSES N. PETERS. nowumogmpmr. wnhngxon, D. C:

UNITED STATES Frick..

PATnN FELT BOOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,460, dated June 8I 1886. Application filed September' 26,*1885. Serial No. 1785269. (No madel.)

To all whom -z' may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. KIMBALL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Hudson, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigam have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Felt Boots; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in felt or knitted boots, the obj ect of my invention being to provide a means whereby felt or knit boots can be made or molded in one piece, so as to conform more closely to the ankle and to the foot of the wearer.

To this end my invention consists in both providing an opening in the ankle of the boot extending from a point in the foot portionupward past the ankle, and of such proportions as to permit the boot to be readily drawn on and off the foot of the wearer, the boot being provided with suitable fastening devices, to securely close the same when desired, and in attaching a suitable stay, preferably ofleather, to the outer and back side of the boot, covering'the back portion ofthe heel and extending np the back of the leg past the ankle, the object of said stay being to improve the wear of the heel, and to aid in preventing the cracking or breaking of the boot at the ankle.

Heretofore felt boots or foot-coverings made of asingle piece or seamless and molded on a forni had to be made nearly straight in the ankle and leg portion, in order that they might be removed, and a convenient means provided for attaching the same to the foot ofthe wearer.

Figure 1, in the accompanying drawings, is a side view of a shoe constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear View of boot or shoe, showing the back stay applied thereto. Fig.3 is a bottom view, and Fig. 4 is aside view, of a fulllength boot.

In the accompanying drawings I'have shown the general conguration of a boot or shoe made in accordance with my invention, the old style being indicated by the dotted lines, my improvement being designed to provide a boot or shoe which will conform to the shape of the foot, ankle, and leg of the wearer.

A represents the boot, which is made of felt or knitted material, which is molded in one piece, so as to be nearly of a uniform thickness throughout, said boot being molded as nearly as possible to conform to the shape of the foot and ankle of the wearer. After the same is molded an opening or slit, c, is made in thefront portion ofthe same, which extends from a point near the instep up past the ankle tothe leg portion, a part of the material being removed therefrom. To one side of' this opening a Hap, B, is attached, and may be made fast to the opposite side by the use of any fastening devices, by lacing, buttons, or buckles. f

G represents a back stay, which extends from theheel portion upwardly, and said back stay covers the seam which is made in the rear portion of the boot or shoe, said seam being occasioned by removing therefrom a portion of the felt from the rear portion of the shoe above the heel. This back stay, besides covering the seam, also gives greater stiffness to this part of the shoe, and prevents the same wrinkling and slipping or working at the heel.

The shoe or boot herein described can be worn over other light foot-coverings, or independently, and, when used in connection with an overshoe, makes a foot-covering which is neat in appearance and well adapted to protect the feet from the cold of northern latitudes.

I am aware that heretofore it has been proposed to provide the leg portion ofa felt boot with a vertical slit, which latter was located at or adjacent to the rear side of said leg por- IOO vices, whereby the boot is made to conform to the curvature of the wearers foot, and wrinkling` common to nnslit felt boots prevented, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. KIMBALL.

\Vitnesees:

G. I. THOMPSON, F. S. VEDDER. 

